Handmade quilts from a local Guild comfort families during some of the hardest moments of their lives — the loss of a loved one.
“You can feel the care stitched into every one," said Vera Heldman, Clinical Educator for Intensive Care Unit (ICU). “You can tell each one is personal, thoughtful, and made with genuine compassion, right down to the handmade labels from each quilter."
For centuries, quilts have offered warmth and comfort. For Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH), they continue that tradition in the ICU through a long-time friendship with Cambridge's Busy Hands Quilters Guild.
“The quilts are just beautiful,” said Angela Schrum, Manager, ICU, RT, Endoscopy, Clinical Scheduling who coordinates every pick-up and drop-off with the Guild. During end-of-life care, families can choose a quilt for their loved one, placing it at the end of the bed to offer comfort in a patient's final moments. "It gives the family something to take home with them, in memory of their loved one."
Angela and her team carefully sort and distribute the quilts across the hospital: Paediatrics for young children, Birthing for new parents and growing families, and Medicine to support the comfort of long-term patients.
The Guild has more than 50 members and has been donating to CMH since 2004. In that time, 1,629 quilts have been donated to the hospital. They arrive in varying sizes, with patterns so unique no two quilts are the same.
Quilts are donated twice a year with Spring bringing in the largest donation and often also includes knitted/crocheted hats and baby blankets. This week's donation included: 132.
“We are incredibly thankful to the Busy Hands Quilters Guild for thinking of our patients,” said Angela, speaking highly of the craftsmanship that goes into them. Each quilt is a handmade reminder that compassion is often found in the smallest gestures.